In 2023, the gender wage gap between men and women working full-time widened year-over-year for the first time in 20 years, according to an annual report from the U.S. Census Bureau. This indicates a significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's roles in the workforce, suggesting that the recovery has not been equitable, as many women returned, particularly in low-wage industries, still earning less than their male counterparts.
Economists note that this widening of the gender wage gap is occurring during a complicated post-pandemic labor market recovery. Although wages rose for all workers in the last year, men's wages increased at a faster pace than women's. The Census Bureau reported that women earned 83 cents on the dollar compared to men, a decline from the previous year's figures, reflecting the ongoing challenges women face in achieving equitable pay.
S. J. Glynn remarked that the situation in 2023 could either be a temporary setback or the beginning of a concerning trend for gender equity in earnings. Regardless, the reversion to pre-pandemic wage gap levels is alarming and emphasizes the need to recognize the structural barriers that women, especially in low-wage sectors, continue to encounter as they strive for economic parity with men.
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